Departmental Billing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of invoices from small and medium-sized businesses were paid by the Law Officers' Departments within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Edward Garnier: The Law Officers' Departments do not currently record or publish information about the size of suppliers as this does not fully reflect the number and size of businesses engaged in the supply chain for goods and services. They also do not discriminate by size of business because many small and medium enterprises can be found within larger supply chains.
	The following table shows the proportion of invoices, from businesses of all sizes, paid by Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which information is available:
	
		
			 Percentage of invoices paid in five days 
			  CPS SFO 
			 June 2010 26 29 
			 July 2010 23 10 
			 August 2010 32 22 
			 September 2010 43 11 
			 October 2010 38 16 
			 November 2010 35 11 
			 December 2010 31 12 
			 January 2011 28 9 
			 February 2011 29 5 
			 March 2011 35 27 
			 April 2011 16 n/a 
			 May 2011 23 n/a 
		
	
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) target is to pay undisputed invoices within 30 days from receipt and the Department does not hold any data on the numbers which were paid within five working days and could obtain such information only at a disproportionate cost. Records show that around 87% of all invoices were paid within 30 days in the last 12 months.
	TSol is also responsible for processing invoices for the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and figures for both organisations are included in the TSol records.

Archway Tower

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the length is of his Department's lease on Archway Tower, N19, in respect of (a) the Office of the Public Guardian and (b) the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; and at what annual cost;
	(2)  what plans he has for the future use of Archway Tower, N19.

Kenneth Clarke: The leases for both the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Children and Families Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) are due to expire on 24 March 2015. The annual cost for the rent and rates for each of the leases are as follows:
	(1) OPG: £968,000
	(2) CAFCASS: £148,000
	The Ministry of Justice intends to vacate Archway Tower by the lease break date of 24 March 2012 as part of the work to rationalise its administrative estate.

Young Offenders

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons aged between 18 and 21 years when convicted for (a) murder or (b) manslaughter and subsequently released on licence were recalled to custody following (i) a further offence and (ii) a breach of the licence in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: There were 19 offenders aged between 18 and 21 years when convicted for murder and subsequently released on licence who were recalled to custody following a breach of licence conditions in 2010. Of these, four had committed a further offence.
	During 2010, no offenders aged between 18 and 21 years old at conviction were recalled to custody while on licence for manslaughter.
	Detailed data on recalls before 2010 are not held centrally in an electronic format. A manual trawl of prisoner files would be required to obtain this data; this would incur disproportionate cost.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Drugs

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the level of cooperation between the Government and the government of the Irish Republic in tackling web drug sales.

James Brokenshire: Officials from the Drugs and Alcohol Unit liaise with colleagues from the Irish Republic on the issue of web drug sales, particularly regarding the sale of new psychoactive substances. Discussions have been held and information shared at working level meetings of the British Irish Council and at the Horizontal Drugs Group in Brussels.

Illegal Immigrants: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants resident at addresses in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency were (a) identified and (b) deported in the last five years.

Damian Green: The data requested are not available as part of UK Border Agency's standard reports. Information on illegal immigrants encountered and removals is recorded on two separate databases. To obtain the requested information would require data matching between these two systems which would exceed the cost threshold.
	We are however able to identify those cases encountered (i.e. served papers) with a last known address in the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, who were subsequently removed. This does not mean they were necessarily encountered in the constituency. The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Served IS151A Subsequently removed 
			 2006 13 4 
			 2007 50 13 
			 2008 50 6 
			 2009 49 11 
			 2010 39 8 
			 2011(1) 14 0 
			 Total 215 42 
			 (1) Data for 2011 covers 1 January to 30 June 2011. Note: All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration plans to reply to the letter of 18 May 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr T S Zivane.

Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 July 2011.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of foreign national prisoners who did not have leave to remain in the UK prior to their imprisonment.

Damian Green: In order to answer this question the UK Border Agency would need to cross reference individual records with the National Offender Management Service. This would incur a disproportionate cost.

Community Care Grants

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effects of his Department's proposals for the localisation of community care grants and crisis loans on (a) distribution of funding, (b) administrative costs and (c) the standard of decision-making processes; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: We are not localising community care grants and crisis loans, we are replacing them with new local welfare assistance delivered by local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales. The new provision will be better targeted and offer better value for money.
	The programme funding for the new local welfare assistance will be the same as the Department for Work and Pensions allocation at the point responsibility is transferred.
	The White Paper published in December 2010—“Universal Credit: welfare that works”—made clear that any new burdens would be funded.
	The delivery of local assistance will mean that any decisions made at a local level are the most appropriate ones for that area.
	These issues, and more, are covered in the Government's response to its call for evidence, “Local support to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses” published on 23 June. It is available in the Library and can be accessed on the Department for Work and Pensions website:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/local-support-replace-ccg-cl.shtml

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data and is currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of workforce management information across the civil service.
	Workforce Management information for the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies will continue to be published via the Annual Civil Service Employment survey, pending the outcome of the review.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to his Department and its predecessors was of the provision of ministerial cars in each financial year between 2000-01 and 2010-11; how many (a) cars for the exclusive use of Ministers and (b) ministerial car journeys were paid for by his Department in each such year; what the average cost to his Department of a ministerial car journey was in each such year; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce the cost of ministerial cars since his appointment.

Chris Grayling: Information on the cost and number of ministerial cars for DWP is published in the annual written ministerial statement, details of which can be found within the Libraries of both Houses. The following details the spend for this Department:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2005-06 390,700 
			 2006-07 407,800 
			 2007-08 415,900 
			 2008-09 428,800 
			 2009-10 506,726 
		
	
	Details of the DWP costs for 2010-11 are being compiled and due for release in July 2011.
	Information prior to 2005 is not available and would be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information relating to individual DWP ministerial car journeys prior to September 2010 is not available as there was no requirement to collect this data.
	Information relating to the number of DWP ministerial car journeys made since the introduction of the 'on-demand' Ministerial Car Service on 6 September 2010 and up until 31 March 2011 is 293.
	The Ministerial Code, published on 21 May 2010, included changes to the circumstances in which Ministers would be entitled to a car and driver. The number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers would be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other considerations. Other Ministers would be entitled to use cars from a Ministerial Car Pool as required.
	All Ministers are encouraged to walk or use public transport wherever practicable.

Maternity Pay

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will bring forward amendments to the guidance on statutory maternity pay and stillbirths to align it with the legal definition of stillbirth of 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.

Maria Miller: The current guidance on statutory maternity pay and stillbirths is fully aligned to the legal definition of stillbirth. The DWP and Directgov website state that:
	“If your baby is stillborn after the start of the 25th week of your pregnancy you are entitled to the same Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay you would have received if your child was born alive”.
	This applies to births occurring in the 25th week of a pregnancy or later, or to put it another way after 24 full weeks of pregnancy have been completed.

Poverty: Children

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty in a household which included a couple in (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household (rather than family) income adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
	The following table shows the number and proportion of children living in couple families in households with income below 60% of contemporary median income before housing costs (BHC). Data are provided for each year between 1997-98 and 2009-10. This information is not available on a quarterly basis.
	
		
			 Table: Numbers and proportions of children in couple families in households with equivalised incomes below 60% of contemporary median income before housing costs (BHC) 
			  Number (million) Proportion (%) 
			 1997-98 2.0 21 
			 1998-99 2.0 20 
			 1999-2000 1.8 19 
			 2000-01 1.7 17 
			 2001-02 1.7 17 
			 2002-03 1.7 17 
			 2003-04 1.7 17 
			 2004-05 1.6 16 
			 2005-06 1.7 18 
			 2006-07 1.7 18 
			 2007-08 1.8 18 
			 2008-09 1.7 18 
			 2009-10 1.7 17 
		
	
	
		
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income (HBAI) data available at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk-asd-index.php?paqe=hbai_arc 2. Data are sourced from the Family Resources survey and covers Great Britain up to 1997-98 and the United Kingdom from 1998-99, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. 3. Disposable household income is adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. Numbers of people in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000, while proportions have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 6. Figures have been presented on a before housing cost (BHC) basis. For BHC figures, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income. 7. The household level poverty threshold is defined as the 60% of contemporary median equivalised disposable household income.

Unemployment Benefits

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people claiming out-of-work benefit lost their entitlement in each local authority area in each of the last 18 months.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Darra Singh
	The Secretary of State for Work and for Pensions has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many and what proportion of people claiming out-of-work benefit lost their entitlement in each local authority area in each of the last 18 months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The information on the numbers and proportions of people who have lost their entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) for each local authority covering the period from August 2009 to January 2011 is available. This has been placed in the Library.
	The source of the JSA information is DWP Information Directorate: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. Figures are published at:
	http://83.244.183.180/sanction/sanction/LIVE/tabtool.html
	The Tabulation Tool and instructions on how to use it can be found on the Departmental website here:
	http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html
	I also provide data below for the numbers and proportions of people claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA) who have been found fit for work. The latest data available covers the period from October 2008 to August 2010.1 am only able to provide this data at a national level due to the disproportionate cost of obtaining the data for each local authority.
	
		
			  Fit for work 
			 Month of claim start Number Percentage 
			 October 2008 3,600 39 
			 November 2008 17,500 39 
			 December 2008 15,200 38 
			 January 2009 21,000 39 
			 February 2009 19,800 40 
			 March 2009 23,500 41 
			 April 2009 21,800 42 
			 May-2009 22,000 42 
			 June 2009 22,800 40 
			 July 2009 22,900 40 
			 August 2009 20,500 40 
			 September 2009 22,000 40 
		
	
	
		
			 October 2009 21,500 40 
			 November 2009 20,800 40 
			 December 2009 17,000 38 
			 January 2010 22,200 39 
			 February 2010 21,600 40 
			 March 2010 23,500 39 
			 April 2010 20,900 38 
			 May-2010 19,800 38 
			 June 2010 20,500 36 
			 July 2010 20,100 35 
			 August 2010 17,700 33 
			 Total 458,500 39 
			 Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding method used. 
		
	
	The source of the ESA table is Table 1 of the publication “Employment And Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment by Health Condition and Functional Impairment: Official Statistics”, and presents initial assessment results for claims to August 2010.
	I hope this is helpful.

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

Bob Neill: The Department's Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract contain clauses requiring adherence to specific legislative standards such as Equality, Environmental and Health and Safety. Each individual contract may set out further behavioural standards dependent upon the nature of the requirement (e.g. the departmental standard terms have separate optional sections relating to the procurement of goods, services and consultancy).

Enterprise Zones

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a Barnett consequential has been made to the devolved administrations as a result of the policy to create enterprise zones.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 689W.

Homes and Communities Agency: Procurement

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Homes and Communities Agency using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 23 June 2011
	A table providing a breakdown of expenditure by the Homes and Communities Agency using Government Procurement Cards for 2008-09 and 2009-10 has been placed in the Library of the House. This includes (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, and (c) supplier, (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction details are not held centrally. Each transaction does have an expenditure type which is a broad description of the type of goods purchased.
	The data covers the periods 1 December 2008 (when the Homes and Communities Agency commenced business) to 31 March 2009; and 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.

Local Authorities: Older People

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to monitor (a) new and (b) changes in the level of charges for older people's services by local authorities.

Bob Neill: Local authorities are democratically elected and, as such, they are independent from central Government and are responsible for their own finances. It is for individual councils in consultation with their communities to decide on what services they provide for older people.
	Notwithstanding, Ministers believe that councils should not be looking to increasing charges simply to deliver essential frontline services, or as an alternative to cutting out waste.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to ensure that the Government's guidance to local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) on equality in LEP board nominations is given consideration by LEPs;
	(2)  what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure that the nominations process for local enterprise partnerships boards is open, fair and transparent;
	(3)  whether he is taking steps to ensure that local enterprise partnerships boards are representative of their communities.

Greg Clark: The Government expect that local areas are fair and transparent in developing their boards, and give due consideration to issues of representation, so as to result in a well-balanced board which suits the needs of the local area.
	The Government have asked that all local enterprise partnership provide formal confirmation of their board selection to Ministers.

Local Government Finance: Voluntary Organisations

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to monitor changes in the level of financial support by local authorities to the voluntary sector through (a) grants and (b) contracts.

Andrew Stunell: The Department is not formally monitoring changes in the financial support by local authorities to the voluntary and community sector.
	Local authorities are expected to publish all expenditure over £500. The new Code of Recommended Practice for local authorities on data transparency will set out minimum expectations of what data should be published. Spend data over £500, including payment to the voluntary and community sector, will be part of that minimum expectation.
	We want to encourage authorities and civil society to collaborate more, including greater involvement for voluntary groups in the running of public services. In that context, we recently consulted on a single-page of new best value statutory guidance that set out reasonable expectations on how best value authorities should work with voluntary and community groups when facing difficult funding decisions. Authorities have to have regard to this guidance and can be challenged to show that they have done so. The consultation closed on 14 June and we will publish final guidance as early as possible this summer.

Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: To answer this question in full would entail disproportionate cost as it would involve examining all purchases. However from our central record of contracts greater than £20,000 we have identified one contract in Scotland with a small and medium sized company based near Glasgow. This was one percent, as a proportion of the total number of such contracts issued in the last financial year.
	As part of my Department's transparency initiative, all spending to suppliers over £500 is published online; this information may also assist the hon. Member.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to (a) ensure regional cooperation between local authorities in planning for Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites and (b) reinstate the obligation on local authorities to provide such sites.

Bob Neill: We are introducing a duty to co-operate through the Localism Bill to ensure that local authorities continue to work together after regional strategies are abolished. This will require local planning authorities, county councils and other public bodies to engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis in the planning process.
	The majority of new Traveller sites are small private ones provided by Travellers themselves. This meets community aspirations on tenure and their small size can aid integration with the settled community. Delivery of such sites is most appropriately managed through planning system. The Government published their proposed new planning policy for Traveller sites for consultation on 13 April. Members are welcome to submit their views.

Bilderberg Group

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to his Department was of (a) travel and (b) accommodation in connection with his attendance at the Bilderberg conference 2011.

Justine Greening: The Department has committed to publish details of all Ministers meetings, hospitality and overseas travel, including that of the Chancellor. This data is published on the HM Treasury website and can be found in the following link:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Commodity Markets

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the findings of the report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development on the effects of financial investors on commodity prices.

Mark Hoban: The report entitled “Price Formation in Financialized Commodity Markets” is UNCTAD's latest contribution to the debate on the impact of financial investors on commodity prices. It has a particular focus on the importance of market information and the scope that might exist for herding in commodity derivative markets. The Government strongly support G20 commitment to improve the regulation, functioning, and transparency of financial and commodity markets.
	The report concludes by floating a number of ideas as options for a possible regulatory response by the international community. They are an interesting contribution to the debate. But given the scope that exists for rules in this area to have counter-productive impacts, a clear understanding of the associated costs and benefits of all proposals is important. The Government would need to see a more detailed assessment of the specific proposals before it would comment on them.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to his Department was of the provision of ministerial cars in each financial year between 2000-01 and 2010-11; how many (a) cars for the exclusive use of Ministers and (b) ministerial car journeys were paid for by his Department in each such year; what the average cost to his Department of a ministerial car journey was in each such year; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce the cost of Ministerial cars since his appointment.

Justine Greening: Information on the cost and number of ministerial cars has been published in annual written ministerial statements since 2005, available in the Libraries of both Houses. Details of the costs for 2010-11 are in the process of being compiled and are due for release in July 2011. Information prior to 2005 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Financial Services

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the financial services industry on steps to ensure transparency in the description of financial products for consumers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to facilitate UK bank account holders switching personal current accounts between banks; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government have an ongoing dialogue with the banking and financial services community.
	The Government established an Independent Commission on Banking to examine a range of issues, including competition in the retail banking and personal current account markets. The Government welcomes the progress that the Commission has made and looks forward to receiving its final report in September 2011.

Loans: Republic of Ireland

Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the bilateral Irish loan still ranks above private sector debt, including private holdings of Irish gilts, in line with that of Eurozone credit extended under the European Financial Stability Facility, following the Eurozone agreement of 20 June 2011.

Mark Hoban: Article 13.3 of the bilateral loan agreement with Ireland states that
	'the Borrower [Ireland] must ensure that its payment obligations under this Agreement at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured indebtedness.'
	In his statement to the press following the Eurogroup meeting of 20 June, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will not claim preferred creditor status as regards loans to countries that already have a support programme. The treaty establishing the ESM will be signed and presented to euro area Parliaments for ratification in the coming weeks.

Broadband: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his broadband objectives include completing the full roll-out of superfast broadband in North East Hertfordshire constituency.

Edward Vaizey: The Government aim to ensure that 90% of UK premises have access to superfast broadband and the remainder have access to at least 2Mbps broadband by 2015, including in Hertfordshire and has made available £530 million to assist the delivery of these objectives.

Digital Broadcasting

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking in respect of technical standards and frequency allocations to minimise the likelihood of future switchovers;
	(2)  what consideration his Department has given to the use of coverage characteristics of Band I for digital broadcasting.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom are responsible for managing the radio spectrum to ensure its most optimal use in delivering benefits to UK consumers and citizens. The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), meets regularly with Ofcom to discuss specific or general spectrum management issues and this includes possible future uses of particular bands. The Secretary of State has had no such discussion on the possible use of Band 1 for digital broadcasting.

Internet: Copyright

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with (a) internet service providers and (b) copyright holders on proposals to introduce website blocking; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Government are regularly in discussion with all relevant parts of industry about ways to reduce online copyright infringement. As a part of that wider dialogue, Government have hosted two discussions between copyright owners, internet service providers, search engines and consumer representation on issues around blocking access to websites that are focussed primarily on infringing copyright. These took place on 4 April and 15 June 2011, at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Radio

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effects of allocating more than 16 MHz of Band III to local DAB radio on local FM stations that occupy 9 MHz of Band II.

Edward Vaizey: No specific assessment has been made of the impact of allocating Band HE spectrum for local DAB on FM stations which occupy Band II. However, we note that the vast majority of FM stations are simulcast on local DAB, providing these stations with the potential for greater coverage and improved reception and functionality for listeners. In 2010 the Government launched the Digital Radio Action Plan to consider the case for a radio switchover which would, if implemented, allow for the re-allocation of much of the Band II spectrum currently used for radio for other purposes.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to her Department was of the provision of ministerial cars in each financial year between 2000-01 and 2010-11; how many (a) cars for the exclusive use of Ministers and (b) ministerial car journeys were paid for by her Department in each such year; what the average cost to her Department of a ministerial car journey was in each such year; and what steps her Department has taken to reduce the cost of ministerial cars since her appointment.

Richard Benyon: The costs of ministerial cars for DEFRA is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of ministerial cars Cost of ministerial cars   (£) 
			 2005-06 5 319,700 
			 2006-07 5 324,500 
			 2007-08 4 267,800 
			 2008-09 4 262,400 
			 2009-10 2 275,989 
		
	
	Details of the costs for 2010-11 are being compiled and are due for release in July 2011. Information prior to 2005 is not available and would be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Since the introduction of the 'on-demand' Ministerial Car Service on 6 September 2010 DEFRA Ministers have made 30 car journeys through this service up until 31 March 2011. Since my appointment we have reduced number of permanent cars used for ministerial travel to one.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the name is of each regulatory measure revoked by her Department between 1 March and 31 May 2011; and what estimate she has made of the potential annual saving to those affected by each revocation.

James Paice: The Department repealed the following 18 statutory instruments between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011:
	1. The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2839), in so far as they apply to England and Wales.
	2. The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1056), in so far as they apply to England and Wales.
	3. The Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/605), in so far as they apply to England and Wales.
	4. The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care)(England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/63).
	5. The Environmental Protection Act (Amendment of Section 57) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/3026).
	6. The Animal By-Products Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2347), so far as they apply in England.
	7. The Avian Influenza (H5N1) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2007 (SI 2007/3303).
	8. The Animal By-Products (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1119).
	9. The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Measures) (Penalty Notices) Order 2008 (SI 2008/984), except in so far as it applies in Wales or to the Welsh Zone.
	10. The Environmental Impact Assessment and Natural Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2610).
	11. The Environmental Impact Assessment and Natural Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/1067).
	12.The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2258).
	13.The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) (No. 2) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2173).
	14. The Environment Agency (Levies) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/61).
	15. The Local Fisheries Committees (Fees for Copy Byelaws) Order 1993 (SI 1993/1116).
	16. The North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries District (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2010 (SI 2010/631).
	17. The Seed Marketing Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2605).
	18. The Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations 1984 (1984/1145).
	Information on the equivalent annual net saving to business of DEFRA's domestic regulations repealed between 1 January and 30 June 2011 was published in the Government's ‘One-in, One-out: Statement of New Regulation’ published in April 2011 and which is available to view at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/o/11-p96a-one-in-one-out-new-regulation.pdf
	The overall effect was an equivalent annual net saving to business of £28,000 arising from DEFRA's regulations.

Food: Reserves

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution her Department plans to make to the G20 Development Working Group on the deployment of emergency food stocks.

Stephen O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK is generally supportive of G20 plans to develop a strategic regional humanitarian food reserves under the leadership of the World Food Programme (WFP) as outlined in the G20 Agriculture Ministers Action Plan launched on the 23 June 2011.
	I am clear, however, that the proposal for a pilot study must include a feasibility study and cost benefit analysis and must provide evidence that this kind of approach is more cost effective than other approaches to addressing acute food insecurity. Department for International Development officials will participate in the design of the pilot and will be represented on the high level stakeholder workshop in September at which WFP's draft proposal will be discussed.

Access to Work Programme

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees with disabilities in his Department are receiving support from the Access to Work programme; and what proportion of the workforce of his Department this figure represents.

Owen Paterson: No member of staff in my Department is currently receiving support from the Access to Work programme.

Constituencies

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the work of the Boundary Commission in Northern Ireland in revising constituency boundaries.

Hugo Swire: The proposed distribution of constituencies will be set out by the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland in a review which they hope to publish by the end of the year. It would be inappropriate to comment until then.

Anguilla: Seas and Oceans

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of Anguilla's marine environment.

Henry Bellingham: Responsibility for environmental issues is devolved to the Governments of the Overseas Territories. Anguilla's Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources published in 2010 a document entitled "Status of Anguilla's Marine Resources" which contains an assessment of Anguilla's marine environment.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department was of the provision of ministerial cars in each financial year between 2000-01 and 2010-11; how many (a) cars for the exclusive use of Ministers and (b) ministerial car journeys were paid for by his Department in each such year; what the average cost to his Department of a ministerial car journey was in each such year; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce the cost of ministerial cars since his appointment.

Henry Bellingham: Written ministerial statements disclosing the cost of ministerial official cars provided by Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) have been made each year from July 2007 and provide information for financial years from 2005-06. The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), made the most recent statement on 28 October 2010, Official Report, column 23WS, relating to the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. Costs for GCDA in 2010-11 incurred by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will be published in due course.
	Since October 2010 FCO Ministers have used vehicles provided by FCO Services wherever possible. The total amount paid to FCO Services between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011 for this service which relates specifically to ministerial usage is £49,251.
	Additional information on car travel is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. Section 10 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance on travel for Ministers and makes clear that Ministers must ensure that they always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the ability of each religious community in Pakistan to (a) exercise its faith, (b) observe its (i) holidays and (ii) weekly day of rest and (c) administer its internal affairs; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: There are many civil society groups who report on the rights of religious minority groups. We engage regularly with them on these issues, and their reports are assessed along with other information to influence how we address our efforts in this area. Reports continue to suggest that minority groups in some areas in Pakistan discrimination in the practice of their religion.
	We are concerned about the human rights situation in Pakistan, including treatment of minority religious groups. We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold the fundamental rights of all Pakistanis, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. We engage regularly with both the Ministry for Inter-faith Harmony and Minority Affairs, and with the Ministry of Human rights.
	During my visit to Pakistan in May 2011,1 met with members of the Government sponsored Interfaith Council in Pakistan. I also recently met with Paul Bhatti, Pakistan's Special Advisor for Religious Minorities, at a seminar at Wilton Park on religious freedom. Engagement at both the bilateral and the multilateral (EU) level helps to ensure that the Government of Pakistan are aware of the importance with which we hold these issues.

Developing Countries: Family Planning

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department plans to allocate to (a) the United Nations Population Fund, (b) Marie Stopes International and (c) the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the comprehensive spending review period; whether his Department places restrictions on the use of such funds; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) will provide up to £80 million to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in core funding over the 2011-14 period. Core funding for the first two years is set at £20 million per annum. Funding for the following two years will be contingent on an assessment of UNFPA's progress in implementing priority reforms. There are no other conditionalities on the use of the core funding.
	DFID will provide £8.6 million to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) over the 2011-13 period. This funding can be used flexibly by IPPF as long as they are able to meet the objectives and measurable performance indicators that have been agreed by DFID.
	We are in the late stages of negotiating a Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA) with Marie Stopes International. This should be finalised in late July or early August.

Carbon Sequestration

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the UK's performance in developing carbon capture and storage.

Charles Hendry: The UK remains at the forefront of global activity for the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The allocation last year of up to £1 billion for the capital costs of the first CCS demonstration project is the largest confirmed public funding commitment to a single commercial-scale CCS project in the world.
	The Government have also committed to providing public sector investment for a further three commercial-scale CCS projects and made significant investments in a number of smaller scale projects; for example, £6.3 million in the Ferrybridge Carbon Capture 100+ pilot project and £1.6 million in the Oxyfuel/Oxycoal 2 pilot in Renfrew. This investment in demonstrating the technology is underpinned by our proposed energy market reforms, designed to drive commercial investment in new low-carbon generation including CCS.
	The forthcoming CCS Roadmap, due to be published in the autumn, will set out further information regarding progress so far and future aims for the development of CCS.
	There is also a statutory requirement under the Energy Act 2010 for the Government to report on progress in decarbonising the GB electricity system and on the development and use of CCS. The first reporting period ends in 2011, with further periods running on a three-year basis starting in 2012. The first of these reports will be published in due course.

Abortion: Counselling

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  under which provisions of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by the Human Fertilisation Act 1990, he proposes to sever the financial links between abortion providers and counselling; for what reasons these provisions have never previously been invoked; what criteria will be used to determine the independent character of counselling; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what (a) regulations and (b) amendable legislative proposals he plans to lay before the House to alter the arrangements governing abortion counselling; what timetable he has set for the laying of such provisions; if he will publish each item of correspondence with hon. Members relating to this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: We are drawing up proposals to enable all women who are seeking an abortion to be offered access to independent counselling. The current arrangements for counselling related to abortion services can be varied within the existing statutory framework for the commissioning of such services. The Health and Social Care Bill 2011, now before Parliament, expands that framework. These proposals would not affect any of the current provisions of the 1967 Abortion Act.
	We would want the counselling to be provided by appropriately qualified individuals. Independent counselling will focus on risks to health posed by both the abortion procedure and continuing with the pregnancy enabling a woman to make a decision that would benefit her overall health and wellbeing.
	We will seek the permission of hon. Members to publish correspondence on this issue.

Health Services: Learning Disability

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 22, paragraph 3.59 of the Government's response to the NHS Future Forum Report, what guidance he proposes to provide on the requirements for dedicated professional and clinical leadership with regard to services for people with learning disabilities.

Simon Burns: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, clinical commissioning groups will take on responsibility for commissioning the majority of national health service healthcare services. The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum Report makes clear that it will strengthen existing duties on clinical commissioning groups to secure professional advice and ensure this advice is from a full range of health professionals where relevant. Clinical commissioning groups will also receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services, in order to provide the best care and outcomes for patients.
	Clinical commissioning groups will be supported and held to account by a national NHS Commissioning Board. An amendment has been put forward to provide for the NHS Commissioning Board to issue guidance to commissioning groups on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice, for example in relation to working with clinical senates and clinical networks. The NHS Commissioning Board will also develop commissioning guidance to support effective commissioning, and promote consistent national Quality Standards produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to ensure all patients, including those with learning disabilities, receive high quality services.

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) levels of net capital investment in small and medium-sized businesses, (b) the proportion of managers of small and medium-sized businesses carrying out management or leadership training and (c) the use of ICT by small and medium-sized businesses.

Mark Prisk: The Government have demonstrated their commitment to increasing the level of net capital investment in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by extending our commitment to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee to unlock up to £2 billion of additional lending to SMEs over the course of the Parliament, working with the banks to establish the Business Growth Fund in order to secure £2.5 billion of finance for growing small and medium firms, and securing an agreement with five banks on the Merlin commitment of £76 billion of gross new lending to small and medium sized enterprises in 2011. Among other measures, Government have also extended its commitment to the Enterprise Capital Fund programme by £200 million over the Parliament, and have announced changes to the Enterprise Investment Scheme that incentivise equity investment in small firms. Government have also approved, subject to due diligence, a bid to the Regional Growth Fund for a new £50 million business angel co-investment fund.
	In “Skills for Sustainable Growth” published in November 2010, we emphasised the importance of improving leadership and management skills and set out our intention to work with employers, employer bodies, the Trades Union Congress, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, and others to develop a framework for improving leadership and management skills to encourage high performance working and better use of skills. We are continuing to provide the SME Leadership and Management Programme with priority for support being given to those SMEs that demonstrate a potential for growth, and are looking closely at how best this programme can be integrated or aligned with Business Coaching for Growth from January 2012.
	Government provide information and advice to SMEs on the use of Information and communication technologies through
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/
	which is the Government's online information (ICT) and advice channel to all businesses. The website includes information on a whole range of issues including detailed guidance on the use of ICT for SMEs.

Businesses: Beckenham

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce the burden of regulation on small and medium-sized enterprises in Beckenham.

Mark Prisk: This Government have set out a clear aim—to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation.
	In September, the Government introduced the ‘One-in, One-out rule’ for new regulation so a new regulatory burden cannot be introduced without identifying another to be removed first. In December, we introduced a new approach to transposing EU directives, to end ‘gold plating’ and ensure they are not transposed in such a way that they disadvantage UK businesses relative to their EU competitors. In March we introduced sunset clauses in new regulations which impose a cost on businesses, to ensure they remain relevant and are fit-for-purpose.
	However, we recognise that badly-designed regulation and red tape can have a particularly damaging effect on our smallest businesses. In ‘The Plan for Growth’, published alongside the Budget 2011, as part of a package of measures to improve the UK's regulatory environment, the Government announced that micro-businesses (those with fewer than 10 employees) and start-ups would be exempt from all new domestic regulation for three years. We also decided not to extend the Right to Request Time to Train to SMEs, potentially saving SMEs approximately £350 million and not to bring forward the Dual Discrimination provision, saving business up to £3 million per year.
	Last month, the Prime Minister launched the Red Tape Challenge website:
	www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	which asks the public and businesses to identify regulations that need to be amended or removed. Every few weeks regulations affecting one specific sector or industry will be published on the website. There is also the opportunity to comment on cross-cutting areas of regulation, such as employment law.
	I believe that businesses in the hon. Member’s constituency will feel the benefit of these policies in the months and years ahead, as our ambitious reducing regulation agenda makes a positive difference to the UK's business environment.

Departmental Billing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of invoices from small and medium-sized businesses were paid by his Department within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: In May 2010 a new cross Government target was introduced that required Departments to pay at least 80% of valid invoices within five working days. The previous target was payment within 10 working days. Over the last 12 months (July 2010 to June 2011 inclusive), the Department has exceeded the 80% target and has paid 95.3% of valid invoices within five working days of receipt.
	For information, the Department publishes its monthly payment performance against the five working day target and this can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/about/procurement/prompt-payment/bis-payment-performance
	The Department does not currently record and publish information about the size of suppliers as this does not fully reflect the number and size of businesses engaged in supplying goods and services. We do not discriminate by size of business because many SMEs can be found within larger supply chains.

Departmental Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what statistical data his Department have ceased to collect in the last year; and what the(a)reasons for and(b)savings arising from each such cessation were.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not ceased any national or official statistical data collection in the last year.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many overseas visits to what destinations he plans to make in an official capacity in the next 12 months.

Edward Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), intends to visit Turkey, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam in the coming months.

Defence: Expenditure

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to reduce expenditure through rationalisation of the defence estates.

Andrew Robathan: Following the strategic defence and security review the Ministry of Defence announced it would achieve cost reductions of up to £350 million per year on the defence estate. This includes those arising through the rationalisation of the estate, including the sale of surplus land and buildings, associated running cost savings and a revised approach to the way the department manages and delivers infrastructure services.
	The creation of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation with effect from 1 April 2011 was the first major step to achieving these savings and will improve decision-making on estate and rationalisation issues.

Departmental Billing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of invoices from small and medium-sized businesses were paid by his Department within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a signatory to the Prompt Payment Code and is fully committed, along with the Department's trading partners, to pay all suppliers as quickly as possible.
	We aim to pay 80% of invoices within five working days. The following cumulative performance has been achieved, in the 12 months to 31 May 2011.
	
		
			  Number/Percentage 
			 Invoices paid 4,353,287 
			 Percentage within five day target 94.75 
		
	
	The five day target and the above performance relate to all MOD suppliers, irrespective of size, as it would be impractical to differentiate between small and medium enterprises and others.

Fire Services

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure effective co-operation between the Ministry of Defence Fire Service and fire and rescue services in the event of serious fire incidents at defence (a) research and (b) storage facilities; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has met officials from the Health and Safety Executive as part of its investigation into the response to the fires at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in August 2010;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the performance of the Ministry of Defence Fire Service in responding to the fires at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in August 2010.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 4 July 2011
	Fire services employed on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate have established plans that identify the respective roles and responsibilities of the MOD fire services and the local authority fire services in the event of fire incidents at Defence establishments. In support of the mutual co-operation and interoperability that already exists between these organisations Joint training and exercises are regularly undertaken, as are liaison visits to review risks and to ensure emergency responders maintain familiarity with the sites' facilities, hazards and operational procedures. These arrangements are in place at all Defence sites where MOD fire services are established, including research and storage facilities.
	Several local authority fire and rescue services responded to the fire at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) on 3 August 2010, including Royal Berkshire, Hampshire and the London fire brigade, as well as the AWE fire and rescue service and the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO). DFRMO has investigated the fire and rescue services' operational response to the fire. Their report, which was published on the MOD website on 9 June, identifies a number of learning points and provides recommendations to rectify those shortfalls identified in the fire services' response to the fire incident. The DFRMO report can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DES/OurPublications/HealthandSafety/
	I have also placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House, along with the DFRMO report on their investigation into the cause of the fire.
	There have been no meetings between MOD Ministers and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concerning the latter's investigation into the fire at the Atomic Weapons Establishment and none have been needed, although MOD officials with regulatory responsibilities meet routinely with the HSE and other relevant bodies as part of their duties.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service pilots have flown Field Carrier Landing Practice missions; on which aircraft such missions have been flown; and how many such missions there have been.

Nick Harvey: Field carrier landing practice missions are not currently carried out by the Royal Navy or RAF. Individual pilots on secondment to the US Navy conduct such missions in T-45 Goshawk and F-18 Hornet aircraft, but information on the number of these missions is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether officials of his Department involved in post-conflict planning in Libya have discussed the task with officials involved in post-conflict planning after the invasion of (a) Afghanistan in 2001 and (b) Iraq in 2003.

Nick Harvey: Officials have had many discussions regarding post conflict planning. These discussions have involved those with previous experience of post conflict planning to ensure that any appropriate lessons learnt from Afghanistan and Iraq are fed into the planning process.